Interior to Propose New Rule on Open Science

The Department of the Interior is moving ahead with a proposed rule that would prohibit the agency from considering scientific studies in its decisions unless all of their underlying data are made public, according to a report by The Hill. In October 2018, the Interior Secretary signed an order requiring that scientific data used in policy decisions be reproducible and made publicly accessible. “Any decision that is based on scientific conclusions that are not supported by publicly available raw data, analysis, or methodology, have not been peer reviewed, or are not readily reproducible should include an explanation of why such science is the best available information,” the order stated. Interior officials said that the policy would boost public confidence in the agency’s decision-making and increase accountability. Following that order, department officials are now in the process of formulating a formal rule governing the use of science in decision-making. The Interior proposed rule, entitled “Promoting Open Science,” is similar to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule “Increasing Transparency in Regulatory Science,” that would bar EPA from using scientific studies in drafting new regulations unless the underlying data “are publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent validation.” “The proposed rule will ensure the Department bases its decisions on the best available scien...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news